Narrating the Kshatriya greatness

Vaishampayana said : The Pandavas again spoke thus to Markandeya, “Tell us again about the greatness (of the royal order)." And Markandeya said, "In the horse sacrifice of Ashtaka the descendant of Vishvamitra, all the kings came.

His brothers, Pratardana, Vasumana and Shibi, the son of Ushinara also came. When the sacrifice was over, he was going with his brother on a car when he saw Narada coming. They saluted him and said, “Come with us on this chariot.”

Saying "So be it" he got on the car. One of them, having gratified the celestial Rishi, the exalted Narada, said, 'All four of are blessed with long life and possess every virtue. We shall therefore go to a certain celestials region and live there for a long time. But who will among us fall down first? The Rishi said "This Ashtaka will fall first."

He asked, "For what cause?” The Rishi said, "I lived for a few days in the palace of Ashtaka. He one day took me out of the city on his car. I saw there thousands of cows each distinguished by various colour. I asked him whose kine are these. He said, “I myself have made gifts of them.” By these words he flourished his own praise; for this reason he will fall (first). (He said), "we shall then remain, there who among us will fall first?”

The Rishi said, "Pratardana." "What is its cause?" "I also lived in the house of Pratardana. One day he took me in his car.

While doing so, a Brahmana said to him, "Give me a horse.” He said, "After my return, I shall give you.” The Brahmana said, “Give it to me without any delay.” He then unyoked the horse on the right (side of the car) and gave it to him.

There came to him another Brahmana desiring to get a horse. Saying as before, he then unyoked the horse on the left (side of the car) and gave it to him. He then went on. But another Brahmana, desiring to get a horse again, came to him. He then gave him the horse yoked to the left front of his car.

When proceeding, another man desirous of getting a horse, also came to him. He said to the Brahmana, "On my return I shall give (you the horse).” But the Brahmana said, "Give it to me without delay.” He gave the Brahmana the only horse he had. He, then himself seizing the yoke of the car, began to drag it. He said, “There is now nothing (to give) to the Brahmanas."

The king had no doubt given away in charity), but he did it with detraction. For this reason he will fall (first). (He asked), “We shall then remain two, who among us will fall first?"

The Rishi said, “Vasumana will fall first."

He asked "For what cause?” Narada said, “Wandering about I came to the house of Vasumana.

He was engaged in the ceremony of Svastivachana for a flowery car, and at that time I came there. When the Brahmanas finished the Svastivachana ceremony, then the car became visible to them.

I praised that car and then the king spoke to me thus, "O exalted one, this car has been praised by you, let this car therefore by yours.”

Once upon a time, I again went to him. I went there because I was in need of a car and the king said, “It is yours.” For the third time I went to the king and praised a car. The king exhibited the flowery car to the Brahmanas and looking at me said, “O exalted one, you have enough praised the flowery car." He simply said this but he did not give it to me. For this he will fall down (from heaven).

One said, "Between the one thus will go with you and you yourself who will go and who will fall? Narada again said, "Shibi will go, but I shall fall down. "He said "what is its cause?" Narada said-I am not the equal of Shibi. (One day) a Brahmana came to Shibi and spoke to him thus. “O Shibi, I have come to you for food," To him Shibi replied, "What shall I do, command me."

The Brahmana then said, “Your son Brihadgarbha should be killed and cooked by you for my food.” Thereupon I waited to see. He (Shibi) killed his son and cooking him in the proper way, placed it on a vessel and then taking it on his head he went to search for the Brahmana.

When he was thus searching, some one spoke to him thus, “The Brahmana whom you search, having entered the city, is setting fire to your house in anger, setting fire to your treasure house, your arsenal, your apartment for females and to your stables for horses and those for elephant."

Shibi heard all this without any change of colour in his face. Entering the city, he thus spoke to the Brahmana, "O exalted one, the food is ready.” Hearing this the Brahmana stood silent. From surprise he stood with down-cast looks.

He then gratified the Brahmanas and said "O exalted one, eat." Looking at Shibi for a moment he said.

"Eat it yourself." Thereupon Shibi said, “Be it so", He then without the least hesitation took down the meat.

The Brahmana then caught hold of his hand and thus spoke to him, “You have (really) conquered anger. There is nothing which you cannot give to a Brahmana.” Then the Brahmana worshipped that greatly exalted one.

And as he (Shibi) looked in front, he saw his son standing before him like a celestials boy adorned with ornaments and full of fragrance all over his body. The Brahmana having done all this disappeared.

It was Vidhata himself who had thus come to try in disguise that royal sage. When he (Vidhata) had disappeared, the ministers thus spoke to the king, “You know everything, why did you then do all this?”

Shibi said: It was not for fame or for wealth or from desire of acquiring any object of enjoyment that I did all this. This path is (never) sinful; it is for this I do all this,

The path trodden by the virtuous is laudable; my heart is always inclined to such a path. I know this noble example of Shibi's greatness; and therefore I have narrated it to you.